Perioperative ketamine for acute analgesia and beyond

Effect of modified ShengYangYiwei decoction on painless gastroscopy and gastrointestinal and immune function in gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Painless gastroenteroscopy is a widely developed diagnostic and treatment technology in clinical practice. It is of great significance in the clinical diagnosis, treatment, follow-up review and other aspects of gastric cancer patients. The application of anesthesia techniques during manipulation can be effective in reducing patient fear and discomfort. In clinical work, the adverse drug reactions of anesthesia regimens and the risk of serious adverse drug reactions are increased with the increase in propofol application dose application dose; the application of opioid drugs often causes gastrointestinal reactions, such as nausea, vomiting and delayed gastrointestinal function recovery, after examination. These adverse effects can seriously affect the quality of life of patients.

AIM

To observe the effect of modified ShengYangYiwei decoction on gastrointestinal function, related complications and immune function in patients with gastric cancer during and after painless gastroscopy.

METHODS

A total of 106 patients with gastric cancer, who were selected from January 2022 to September 2022 in Xiamen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for painless gastroscopy, were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 56) and a control group (n = 50). Before the examination, all patients fasted for 8 h, provided their health education, and confirmed if there were contraindications to anesthesia and gastroscopy. During the examination, the patients were placed in the left decubitus position, the patients were given oxygen through a nasal catheter (6 L/min), the welling needle was opened for the venous channel, and a multifunction detector was connected for monitoring electrocardiogram, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, etc. Naporphl and propofol propofol protocols were used for routine anesthesia. Before anesthesia administration, the patients underwent several deep breathing exercises, received intravenous nalbuphine [0.nalbuphine (0.025 mg/kg)], followed by intravenous propofol [1.propofol (1.5 mg/kg)] until the palpebral reflex disappeared, and after no response, gastroscopy was performed. If palpebral reflex disappeared, and after no response, gastroscopy was performed. If any patient developed movement, frowning, or hemodynamic changes during the operation (heart rate changes during the operation (heart rate increased to > 20 beats/min, systolic blood pressure increased to > 20% of the base value), additional propofol [0.propofol (0.5 mg/kg)] was added until the patient was sedated again. The patients in the treatment group began to take the preventive intervention of Modified ShengYangYiwei decoction one week before the examination, while the patients in the control group received routine gastrointestinal endoscopy. The patients in the two groups were examined by conventional painless gastroscopy, and the characteristics of the painless gastroscopies of the patients in the two groups were recorded and compared. These characteristics included the total dosage of propofol during the examination, the incidence of complications during the operation, the time of patients' awakening, the time of independent activities, and the gastrointestinal function of the patients after examination, such as the incidence of reactions such as malignant vomiting, abdominal distension and abdominal pain, as well as the differences in the levels of various immunological indicators and inflammatory factors before anesthesia induction (T0), after conscious extubation (T1) and 24 h after surgery (T2).

RESULTS

There was no difference in the patients’ general information, American Society of Anesthesiologist classification or operation time between the two groups before treatment. In terms of painless gastroscopy, the total dosage of propofol in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and the time of awakening and autonomous activity was significantly faster than that in the control group (P < 0.05). During the examination, the incidence of hypoxemia, hypotension and hiccups in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). In terms of gastrointestinal function, the incidences of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and abdominal pain in the treatment group after examination were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01). In terms of immune function, in both groups, the number of CD4+ and CD8+ cells decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the number of natural killer cells increased significantly (P < 0.05) at T1 and T2, compared with T0. The number of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the treatment group at the T1 and T2 time points was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05), while the number of natural killer cells was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In terms of inflammatory factors, compared with T0, the levels of interleukin (IL) -6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients in the two groups at T1 and T2 increased significantly and then decreased (P < 0.05). The level of IL-6 at T1 and T2 in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The preoperative use of modified ShengYangYiwei decoction can optimize the anesthesia program during painless gastroscopy, improve the gastrointestinal function of patients after the operation, reduce the occurrence of examination-related complications.

The NMDA receptor antagonists memantine and ketamine as anti-migraine agents

Migraine is a debilitating disorder affecting females more frequently than males. There is some evidence that drugs targeting glutamate receptors: memantine and ketamine might be beneficial in the therapy of this entity. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to present NMDA receptor antagonists, memantine and ketamine, as potential anti-migraine agents. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and clinical trials submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov to find publications describing eligible trials published between database inception and December 31, 2021. This comprehensive literature review summarizes data on the use of the NMDA receptor antagonists memantine and ketamine in the pharmacotherapy of migraine. Results from 20 previous and recent preclinical experiments are discussed and correlated with 19 clinical trials (including case series, open-label, and randomized placebo-controlled trials). For the purposes of this review, the authors hypothesized that the propagation of SD is a major mechanism in the pathophysiology of migraine. In several animal studies and in vitro studies, memantine and ketamine inhibited or reduced propagation of the SD. In addition, the results of clinical trials suggest that memantine or ketamine may be an effective treatment option for migraine. However, most studies on these agents lack control group. Although further clinical trials are needed, the results suggest that ketamine or memantine may be promising molecules for the treatment of severe migraine. Particular attention should be paid to people who have a treatment-resistant form of migraine with aura or have exhausted existing treatment options. For them, the drugs under discussion could represent an interesting alternative in the future.

Effect of Intravenous Ketamine on Hypocranial Pressure Symptoms in Patients with Spinal Anesthetic Cesarean Sections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women are more likely to suffer post-puncture symptoms such as headaches and nausea due to the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid after spinal anesthesia. Because ketamine has the effect of raising intracranial pressure, it may be able to improve the symptoms of perioperative hypocranial pressure and effectively prevent the occurrence of hypocranial pressure-related side effects.

METHOD

Keywords such as ketamine, cesarean section, and spinal anesthesia were searched in databases including Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane from 1976 to 2021. Thirteen randomized controlled trials were selected for the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 12 randomized trials involving 2099 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was no significant association between ketamine and the risk of headaches compared to the placebo (RR = 1.12; 95% CI: 0.53, 2.35; p = 0.77; I² = 62%). There was no significant association between ketamine and nausea compared to the placebo (RR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.40, 1.09; p = 0.10; I² = 57%). No significant associations between ketamine or the placebo and vomiting were found (RR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.53, 1.67; p = 0.83; I² = 72%).

CONCLUSION

Intravenous ketamine does not improve the symptoms caused by low intracranial pressure after spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section.

Subanaesthetic dose of esketamine during induction delays anaesthesia recovery a randomized, double-blind clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Esketamine is an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA receptor) that is widely used for multimodal analgesia. In addition to analgesia, sedation is another important effect of esketamine. However, data are limited regarding the sedation effect of esketamine during general anaesthesia. The objective of this study was to determine whether sedation with a subanaesthetic does of esketamine affects anaesthesia recovery.

METHODS

Fifty patients, ASA I to II patient scheduled to laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were randomly assigned to receive a single bolus of esketamine 0.2 mg kg-1 (esketamine group) or placebo (control group). Propofol, sufentanil and rocuronium were used during total intravenous anaesthesia. The patients' time of recovery from anaesthesia, postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative agitation were analysed.

RESULTS

Data from 47 patients were analysed. The average time of anaesthetic recovery was 22.04 ± 1.48 min in the esketamine group(n = 23) and 17.54 ± 1.46 min in the control group(n = 24). The recovery time was significantly longer in the esketamine group. Postoperative pain in the PACU was lower in the esketamine group (NRS score range 0-2) than in the control group (NRS score range 0-3). There were no differences in postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative agitation.

CONCLUSION

Subanaesthetic doses of esketamine can reduce postoperative pain in the PACU but delay the aesthetic recovery during the laparoscopic cholecystectomy, without affecting postoperative nausea and vomiting, and postoperative agitation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry http://www.chictr.org.cn/ (Registration date: 20/11/2020; TrialID: ChiCTR2000040077 ).

To compare the analgesic efficacy of two different doses of epidural ketamine in chronic low back-pain patients: A randomised double-blind study

Background and Aims:

Ketamine, an adjunct to epidural steroid injections (ESI) for chronic back-pain provides better quality and prolonged duration of analgesia. The present study aims to evaluate the analgesic efficacy in terms of pain scores, duration of pain-free period, patient satisfaction score (PSS) and number of repeat injections with 25 mg versus 50 mg ketamine as adjuvants to ESI.

Methods:

In a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial at a tertiary care hospital, 60 patients of chronic low back-pain of either sex, aged 18–65 years, received preservative free 25 mg ketamine in Group I and 50 mg ketamine in Group II as adjunct to 40 mg triamcinolone in total 6 ml volume given epidurally. Baseline data along with follow-ups at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-procedure included assessment of pain using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), duration, number of repeat blocks using PSS, Quality of Life (QoL) and side-effects. Categorical data analysed using the Chi-Square test, and continuous data using paired t-test.

Results:

Pain evaluation within the groups over time showed significant improvement from baseline (P = 0.000), and between the groups showed comparable VAS scores at 12 weeks (P = 0.392). The PSS, pain-free duration and number of repeat injections were also statistically comparable. However, the QoL improved more in Group II vs Group I (P = 0.024). The short-lasting side effects were more in Group II, but no features of neurotoxicity were observed in any patient.

Conclusion:

The analgesic efficacy of adjuvant therapy with 50 mg ketamine appeared comparable to 25 mg ketamine. Although, there was a better quality of life and longer pain-free interval with 50 mg ketamine, the side effects were more.

The Effectiveness of Ketamine in Pediatric Acute Deafferentation Pain after Spinal Cord Injury

Deafferentation pain and allodynia commonly occur after spinal cord trauma, but its treatment is often challenging. The literature on effective therapies for pediatric deafferentation pain, especially in the setting of spinal cord injury, is scarce. We report the case of a 12-year-old patient with acute allodynia after a gunshot injury to the spine. The pain was refractory to multiple analgesics, but resolved with ketamine, which also improved the patient's physical function and quality of life, a trend that continued many months after the injury. We suggest that early initiation of ketamine may be effective for acute pediatric deafferentation pain secondary to spinal cord injury, as well as preventing chronic pain states in that population.